For nearly a month, 17-year-old Ruth DeMerrit had been missing from her home in Kirkland, a quiet suburb of Seattle.
She had last been seen after attending a dance in 1917, and as the days passed without word from her, concern turned into dread.
That dread became horror when a headless body was discovered in the brush and identified as the missing young woman.
Police immediately began searching for the man who had escorted her to the dance, though they said they did not believe the case was connected to a series of attacks on women in nearby rural districts.
Headless Body of Young Woman Found in Seattle Suburb
SEATTLE, Washington. — A headless body found in the brush yesterday was identified today as Miss Ruth DeMerrit, 17 years old, and a resident of Kirkland, a suburb of Seattle.
She attended a dance a month ago and has been missing since that time.
The police are making a search for her dance escort. They do not believe he has any connection with the person or persons who has been slugging women in many of the rural districts.
Source: The Alaska Daily Empire. Juneau, Alaska. October 15, 1917.
